Written by: Carolyn Wellington, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. Do you ever wonder what prevents you from moving forward in life or getting that promotion at work? Why is making decisions so difficult? The answers to this and many more questions, your mindset! Mindset Self-sabotage, second-guessing, it is time to take control of your life and your mindset. Too many of us live a life with restricted thoughts, feelings, and emotions, trapped in a world of limitations with nowhere to go. Is that you? How does it feel, thinking that you are not good enough or talented enough to achieve those dreams and passions that lie deep within? The walls of restriction are higher than you could ever reach, the waters deeper than you would attempt to swim. Sitting there in despair and uncertainty, not knowing where to turn for support because you believe no one can help you. Well, let me say, there is one person who can help and that is yourself. You have the power within you to make a change, to live the life you want, or achieve the career you have always desired. The only thing stopping you is yourself and your limited mindset. One reason you may not achieve your outcome is that you are not allowing yourself to succeed. You believe that everyone else can, but you do not because of past traumas or beliefs. Self-sabotage at its best! So how do you change from a limited mindset to a growth mindset? First, you need to make yourself a priority. You come first; everything else is secondary. You can only give 100% to anything or anyone if you are 100% yourself. A factor some people chose not to recognize. One of the great ways to help make yourself a priority and help with your inner belief is to start a journal. A journal is more than a notebook or diary. It is part of your lifestyle, helping to solidify your goals and focuses on paving your journey ahead. It is a great way to reflect and see how far you have progressed. Progression is key. With the right support network, journal, and a coach, you will be amazed at how far you can travel and how quickly you begin to climb the rungs to success. How do I know this ? Why am I so confident? I'm also walking my journey, sharing my stories, supporting others, walking with them as we drive ourselves forward into a new world of positivity and certainty. Being determined is good, but being certain is more powerful and on a higher level giving you that extra degree of confidence and momentum. Yes, there are days when your drive slows down and can become non-existent. There are also days when you will power through your tasks feeling on top of the world. Remember, each day to pull on the positivity chains even when they are hard to find. That is how people achieve their goals; they do not quit! They use their inner strength to dive deep and search for that inner feeling of accomplishment. No journey is easy or a straight path. You will always have mountains to climb, rivers to cross, challenges to face, triggers to overcome, blockages that you never realized were there until now. Blockages that have stopped you in the past. It is time to stand up, challenge, and destroy them. Make way for the new you. I know reading this may sound easy. The reality is it is not. You will only succeed if you want to make a change and want it so badly, putting in the hours and hours of work needed. Understand some days; it may seem like nothing is happening; life appears static. Here is where you must keep pushing forward, opening your mind, shutting out the demons of negativity and self-sabotage. Take control of your thoughts, your emotions, and your battles. Journaling Some days life appears to be a struggle. The part you do not often see or feel is that you are growing, shifting your mindset, thinking in a more positive form. When you recognize how far you have progressed, you understand how far you have come in your journey. This is the beauty of working with a journal. I have worked with a journal for many years. It has helped me recognize the mistakes, the lessons that life has thrown at me. Journaling has helped keep me focused on my path by giving me space and the time to listen to myself, my needs, and my wants. Giving my goals and desires a place to live and solidifying them. Goals need to be cemented. Goals do not move; you move! You may take a slight detour, but your goal stays firmly grounded. As well as journaling and thinking positive, here are 10 tips to help you move in the right direction: Always start your day with a positive thought. It is a new day, so do not start with yesterday’s problems. Yesterday is the past; you need to learn to leave it in the past. Do not drag past baggage and thoughts with you. You no longer have any use for it. Learn to meditate, reconnect with yourself and your thoughts. Create a personal vision board of your dreams and goals. Go wild, use bright colors, bold pictures. Show gratitude for the people and things you have in your life right now. Learn to say NO. Your life, your journey, your happiness come first. Time to step out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself. Change can hold us back because of fear of the unknown, but great things and new opportunities happen when you take that bold step. Magic certainly does happen outside of your comfort zone, so go on the challenge yourself today. All that pain and hurt from the past is holding you back. Preventing you from being who you want to be and who you should be. I want you to take a moment, a deep breath, and let go of the toxic thoughts and feelings, reconnect with yourself, recentre and refocus. The road ahead may be a long one, a little bumpy. The more effort you put in, the easier it will become. Practice forgiveness not for others but yourself. Surround yourself with a positive environment, friends, and family. People who believe in you and support you. Focus on the present moment, this moment right now. Stay true to yourself. Make better choices and decisions. Enhance your life by making choices and decisions that bring you closer to your inner being, making you happier, motivating you more. It is your life, so make the right choices for yourself. Start something you always wanted to do, for example, write a book, create something, travel. Yes, fear may step in front of your path, face it and walk through it. Go on, challenge yourself. It may be difficult in the beginning. Keep trying, but do not quit! Remember you are a priority. You deserve to be at the top of your list, self-love, and self-care is the key to growth, love, and happiness. Confidence and success come with changing how you think and feel. I know because I was just like you. Want to learn more from Carolyn? Follow her on Facebook , Instagram , Linkedin and visit her website . Carolyn Wellington, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Carolyn Wellington offers a wealth of experience in health, wellbeing, lifestyle, and sports therapy, successfully working with entrepreneurs, elite world-class athletes, television, stage, and theatre, plus achieving her own personal goals of being ranked 7th in Britain as a bodybuilder, becoming a multi health and wellness award winner and establishing herself as health and wellness writer. After training as a nurse, she realized she had a real passion for sport and helping others. She had grown up in a family environment of fitness, exercise, and positive thinking and knew that to achieve anything, you had to work hard, commit and be consistent. Her road has not always been easy, and she has faced many challenges, losing her sister at a young age, divorce, becoming a single parent, and many more. Her positive mindset and determination have proven to serve her well. She has become a highly sought-after coach, supporting others as they transition to become the best version of themselves. Her clients stretch from the UK, USA, and globally. Her mission states that "Positive thinking, positive actions equal achievements." At the age of 61, Carolyn is a great role model for what she stands for and promotes.

Written by: Roderick Mason , Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. With age, our bodies tend to change and adapt to the environment according to these changes. Among men and women, there is a series of hormonal and structural changes with the increasing age. Psychological changes: Our brain comprises cells as neurons make connections with each other to work. These connections tend to communicate with each other through neurotransmitters for conveying the signals and leading to the response. The human brain divides into lobes as the frontal, temporal, and parietal lobes. After 40, the weight and volume of the brain tend to decrease by 5%. This occurs due to shrinkage or death (progressive) of grey matter. A decline in white matter and grey matter affects the frontal lobe, which has functions with critical thinking, perception, and memory. (1) Mental health is of great importance. Sound mental health can help with the proper functioning of the body as a whole. Mental disorders can paralyze the individual to perform and actively participate in the community emotionally and cognitively. 1. A decline in memory and perception There are a few reasons behind memory decline after 40 years among men: Age-dependent decline in the functioning of the hippocampus, A reduction in the concentration of dopamine neurotransmitter with age, Increase in the production of beta-amyloid protein. (2) Intake of omega-3 fatty acids can increase the production of dopamine and decrease beta-amyloid proteins. Other than it, meditation and massage therapy can also induce dopamine stimulation. 2. Sleep impairment Sleep is directly linked with mental health. During middle age, men tend to suffer from several emotional, work-related, and family-related stresses. These stressors affect the ability of an individual to have sound sleep. (3) With age, the causes of poor sleep are: A decrease in the duration of deep sleep Increase in awakenings at night time Supplementation with zinc can help the individuals suffering from poor quality sleep in their mid-age. 3. Cognition and behavioral changes Due to the degeneration of neurons and neural connections, men can suffer from alterations in cognition with age. Age has various detrimental effects on behaviors, cognitions, and perception. Physical exercises, strengthening of the body, and optimizing diet can help with the cessation of negative degeneration of neurons in the brain. Cardiovascular exercises can improve blood and oxygen flow to the brain and body, improving brain volume. (4) Physiological changes: Muscle mass and fat: Men tend to lose their LBM (lean body mass) and gain or store fat inside their skin layers with age. Fat accumulations tend to occur in a pear or apple-shaped belly. (5) Strength training and resistive exercises can help with endurance and the buildup of muscle mass. Cardiovascular health: Men tend to increase their risk of cardiovascular diseases after the decade of 40 years of age. It can lead to atherosclerosis (narrowing of blood vessels), hypertension, and heart failure (in severe cases). (6) Every five years, go for a checkup of your cholesterol levels, diabetes, and triglyceride levels. Regular screening will help to find the culprits in their earlier stages. Alopecia: Alopecia is the disease of hair fall in which men can undergo male pattern baldness in their 40s. It occurs due to several hormonal changes and genetics. (7) Due to alopecia, men can also suffer from negative personality perception, affecting their mental health. Minoxidil solution and Finasteride are FDA-approved solutions for alopecia. Hormonal changes: Testosterone is the male hormone that tends to fall with age. (8) Moreover, melatonin and growth hormone also decrease from this age. Lack of testosterone causes other body effects as: A decrease in the quality of sperms (9) Reduction in body muscle mass Depression and anxiety Decrease of interest in sexual activities A decline in the immune system: Immunosenescence is the aging process that reduces the efficiency of the innate immune system and adaptive immune system. The extent of the decline in the immune system also depends upon other factors (10) as stress levels and other comorbidities (diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension). Nutrition is the best weapon against age-related decline in the immune system. Supplementation with vitamin E, probiotics, and zinc can improve the functions of the immune system. Restriction of calorie intake can also have the best anti-aging effects, but you should do it under the supervision of any professional. Conclusion: With age, our bodies tend to lose their youth and suffer from a decline in functioning. Men tend to suffer this decline after 40 years of age. The best advice to cope with this decline is a preventive lifestyle that can minimize damage to the body. Give proper attention to your diet, supplementation, and physical activity. Want to learn more from Roderick? Follow him on Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin or visit his website . Read more from Roderick! Roderick Mason, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Roderick M. Mason is a Certified John Maxwell Speaker Trainer Coach and the founder of Holistic Coaching Solutions. A platform focused on delivering high-end corporate training services. He is a Certified Bucket List Coach, a Certified CBMC Leadership Coach, a Certified Primal Health Coach, and a Licensed Diversity & Inclusion Trainer. He is an avid seeker of knowledge who highly appreciates the notion of continuous improvement and growth.

Written by: Sheila Starr, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. This is what my school report said, and it has had a lasting effect on most of my life. What does it mean, though? Does well – that’s good, isn’t it? Could do better – that doesn’t sound so good, but what does better look like? There was never any detail behind that comment, no advice or actions to help me move towards being better. I was just left with a feeling of inadequacy. No matter how well I have done in my life and career, I have had an underlying feeling that it’s not enough, that I could do better. Don’t get me wrong; I believe that we can always do better, aim high, have stretching targets, and live our best lives. However, how do you ever feel happy, fulfilled, and satisfied if you can always do better if you always feel slightly inadequate? We all set standards in our lives and live our best life. We need to have high standards. Most of us lead nice, comfortable, safe lives, but how many of us feel really happy and fulfilled? Not many. That is because our standards are not high enough. To live a great life, you need to set higher standards but no so high that they are unattainable. It’s a real balance, and it’s not easy. I have always set quite high standards but ones that can be achieved. I like to aim for things that take me outside my comfort zone but not into the terrifying territory. Being terrified just makes me freeze and not get anywhere, but being uncomfortable gets me excited and pushes me to try new things and become more accomplished. Comfort zones are different for everyone, so you need to find the edge of yours and decide when and where you will dive in and move into your zone of discomfort, your stretch zone. Once you have your standards and achieved your goals, it's vital that you recognize your success. Be proud of yourself, pat yourself on the back, share it with your friends and family. Celebrating your achievements will help you feel happy and fulfilled. If you have met your own standards, you shouldn’t feel that you could have done better. You won’t feel inadequate but satisfied. Your standards will change as you go through life. Make sure you keep them high so that you live your best life and celebrate successes, so you feel happy. It has taken me years to realize that “could do better” without any objectives is just an opinion, somebody else’s opinion. It is only my opinion that matters and I have recently decided that I am good enough. I have set my own standards. I am not a perfectionist; I believe that the effort it takes to make something perfect outweighs the result. It just has to be good enough to do the job and meet my standards. I am good enough, and “does well” is good enough for me. This new belief has enabled me to recognize that I have actually achieved a lot. It has freed me from that feeling of inadequacy and has allowed me to be happy. I now feel fulfilled with my life, do you? Let me help you, email me at sheila@sheilastarrcoaching.co.uk. Want to learn more from Sheila? Follow her on Linkedin & Facebook. You can also click here to visit her website. Sheila Starr, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Sheila Starr is a confidence coach inspiring women to live their best lives. After over thirty years working in the corporate world, she now uses all of her skills, knowledge, and experience to empower women to be more confident and believe in themselves. Sheila left school at 16 and worked her way up to Senior Leadership positions. She has worked in some male-dominated environments and developed excellent leadership skills. Sheila has also had an adventure in her life, taking 5 career breaks to fulfill lifelong dreams from grape-picking in France, following the Formula 1 season around Europe, and writing two novels. Sheila has coped with her husband's sudden, life-changing disability and his failing health over the years and firmly encourages people not to put off living their dreams but to live them now.

Written by: Stephanie Benjamin, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. Surely! You are aware of the fact that recently the world has drastically changed! 2020 is the starting point. We have experienced the unknown, countries by countries, and a new virus contaminates the world day by day! Slowly we have learned different ways to socialize, work, learn, communicate, and overall how to live differently. For most of it, it goes contactless, with distance and virtually. The world is changing. Welcome to the after 2020 world. As per the experts, who already study the question, there is no doubt that the pandemic has accelerated the world's evolution by at least 10 years. As per Mauro Guillen, Author of the book “2030: How Today’s Biggest Trends Will Collide and Reshape the Future of Everything,” things such as climate, politic, and society will face adapted challenges like inequality in term of incomes and the urgent need of innovation in terms of government policy. Another thought from the Futurist Geraldine Wharry is that she is getting ready to see more and more people turning off their phones to limit interruptions for deepest focus and wellbeing breaks as a priority. Edward Snowden, Former N.S.A contractor and author of “Permanent Record” says in a New York Times interview that: to achieve sustainability, we will need to treat technological change and environmental change as symbiotic. If more efforts aren’t directed toward converting data centers to renewable energy and innovating ecologically responsible, recyclable machines and batteries, then the internet, too, will become a weapon of the rich, even more than it already is — a tool used to seize and control ever more scarce natural resources. Obviously, there are many ideas and predictions about our future world; technology, education, population, and climate are the major upcoming impactful changes. However, from my point of view and based on my own research, I believe that in the next 10 years, there are few things that we should be aware of, at our personal level, to be able to keep up and succeed. Here are the things: To be ready for the future world, we will need to be more self-aware and think “savvy.” Have this ability to make good judgments. Be more curious and knowledgeable. Think for the next 10 years instead of thinking day by day. Now that the information becomes more and more accessible, it is also a way to teach us to be more independent and think on our own. So, how can you become as much as possible the best version of yourself? Invest in yourself. Be resourceful. Use your creativity. Become your best asset. Be committed to your own success. But let’s get back to Guillen’s book,” 2030”. He states that by 2030: There will be more grandparents than grandchildren. The middle-class in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa will outnumber the US and Europe combined. The non-Western consumer will drive the global economy for the first time in modern history. Women than men will own more global wealth. There will be more robots than workers. There will be more computers than human brains. There will be more currencies than countries. All these trends, currently underway, will converge in 2030 and change everything you know about the culture, economy, and the world. Finally, this is what we need to think laterally, adaptively, and creatively to prepare for this new world. For more info, follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and visit my website! Stephanie Benjamin, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Stephanie Benjamin is a French International Model, Fashion TV Presenter, Celebrity Life Coach, and Success Mindset Coach. Through her modeling career, she has won the title of Miss Power Woman France in 2017 and get the opportunity to compete at the Miss Power Woman International beauty contest and online TV reality show, where she received a title for the Catwalk Category. In 2018 she was a finalist at Top Model United Kingdom. In 2019, she participated in a famous dating TV show called “Take me out “in Milan for the Italian branch. In 2020, She was hired by the well-known fashion event and premier Model Search Awards, “Top Model UK” to be one of the brand's faces and start as a TV presenter. Moreover, Stephanie is a certified international coach and dedicated herself to the Fashion and Entertainment industry. She mostly coached high-profile personalities, such as Models, Influencers, Athletes, Celebrities, and Creative Business owners. Stephanie introduced herself in the Public Speaking Industry and became a brand ambassador for the world's largest education seminar company “Success Resources.” In the meantime, She is mentored by one of the lead trainers from the famous life coach Tony Robbins Academy. She gets the opportunity to be one of the co-authors of one of the Amazon Bestseller books "Unstoppable Courage." From this experience, she is actually working on her own book, which is the plan to release current 2021. Stéphanie has been recognized and featured in the first issue of the WOTC Magazine 2021, N°1 Women's Magazine on the enterprise. She inspires others to never give up on their dreams by training their brains to succeed and build a winning mindset. Book reference: 2030, How today’s biggest trends will collide and reshape the future of everything, Mauro F. Guillen

Written by: Melitta Campbell, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. Do you feel like a confident networker? Neither did I when I first started out. Then my Victory Formula changed everything. “You are such a natural networker! I could never have your confidence!” I feel amused and a little bit awkward when people tell me this kind of thing. The truth is that I’m an introvert, and in my childhood, I was labeled ‘The Shy Girl .’ But at the same time, I appreciate the acknowledgment of just how far I’ve come along my journey to build my confidence, so I pursue more of my life and business goals. In the early stages of my career, networking events indeed made me feel like a little shy girl who wanted to hide behind her mum’s long plaid 70’s skirt, waiting for that blessed moment when I could finally go home and curl up under a blanket with a good book. However, when I moved country and started from scratch, I realized no choice but to network to find friends and business connections. It was time to get over my fear of networking. This network has subsequently been a powerful tool that has not supported my career and personal growth but later helped me launch and grow three businesses successfully . I learned many important networking lessons over the last two decades. The catalyst behind them all was my Victory Formula. A framework I designed enabled me to rewrite the rules of engagement so that I could build connections in ways that suited my introverted nature. The formula has helped many introverted (and extraverted) networkers start meaningful business relationships with greater ease and joy. Confident Networkers’ Lessons Number 1 There is always a learning curve. My early attempts at networking were pretty disastrous. I would stumble over my words and generally feel like a rabbit caught in headlights. I started to observe what other people did. But, as most of them appeared to feel so at ease as they moved from one conversation to the next, it didn’t really help me. I even bought a few books to help me learn networking best-practice. It was great to understand what I should be doing finally , and many of the tips shared were helpful. But none of the books I read helped me prepare mentally for the challenge ahead of me. Then one day, at a leadership training event, we were taught ‘self-coaching .’ We were encouraged to find a problem we were experiencing, then brainstorm solutions before categorizing them and making an action plan. That was the birth of my Victory Formula. Confident Networkers’ Lessons Number 2 Implement the VICTORY Formula The formula mapped out my way forward. It consists of seven elements: V stands for vision. When mingling with strangers, understanding my bigger vision made me feel like it was worth the effort. I is for intention. My vision helped me get intentional about mastering the skills I needed to succeed. Once networking became set as a clear priority, it cleared doubt from my path. C means courage , which was often needed in the early stages of my networking journey. Over time, this courage gave way to confidence, which helped me stay in the game. T stands for being True to myself. This was an important reminder not to be tempted to feel like I needed to be anyone other than myself. It’s only when you show up as your best self that you can be confident and start meaningful relationships. O relates to the Obstacles that we all face when learning new skills. Being true to myself helped me plan to determine how I would respond to obstacles on my journey. R is for Rules that guide my actions. These permitted me to grow at my own pace, to make mistakes and call them ‘fascinating ,’ and to celebrate all my achievements no matter how small. Finally, the Y reminds me that "Yes! I can do this." The formula played a central role in my ability to learn, grow and start feeling more comfortable while networking. So much so, I’ve devoted half of my book ‘A Shy Girl’s Guide to Networking’ to sharing the formula with others who are looking to up-level their networking confidence. Confident Networkers’ Lesson Number 3 Networking is a Three-Step Process. Another big realization for me was that networking is a game of three parts. I discovered that it’s what you do before and after a networking event that really determines your levels of success. It’s not just a case of showing up with a pocket full of business cards. Understanding the three-step process enabled me to break things down and master the art of networking bit by bit. This also helped me to see the results of each new action, which motivated me to take the next action, and so on. You can learn more about these three stages in the Networking Success Checklist I created to guide my own actions, and now yours too! Confident Networkers’ Lesson Number 4 Get out there and try . As my own journey shows, mastering the art of networking can take time and courage, but with the help of the Victory Formula, you can accelerate your growth. After all, no amount of theory can replace practical exercises, as much as we introverts might like to absorb all the learnings from books in the comfort of our own homes. There is no shortcut. To master the skill of confident networking, you’ll need to get out there and try the lessons yourself. To give you one final word of encouragement, networking can end up opening new universes to you and endless possibilities. My network, for example, has enabled me to launch three businesses at zero cost and become an international public speaker, and now an author too. I met my mentor and publisher through a networking contact! You never know where your next ‘Hello’ will take you in life, and that’s an exciting prospect! If you are eager to improve your skills and enjoy building your networking confidence, all the knowledge and guidance you need is in Melitta’s highly actionable and inspiring new book: A Shy Girl’s Guide to Networking. For more information, follow Melitta on Facebook , Twitter , and LinkedIn . You can also visit her website ! Read more from Me litta ! Melitta Campbell, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Melitta Campbell is a Business and Communication Coach focused on helping women confidently build and grow a profitable business that enables them to live their purpose and secure the balanced lifestyle they desire. She is also the best-selling author behind the ‘Shy Girl’ series of books for women in business. Starting with her advice on ‘Networking for Business Success ,’ through the series, Melitta shares how she has turned to be a ‘shy girl’ into a quietly powerful advantage.

Written by: Jennifer Sharp, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. Do you display confident behavior? What positive or negative thoughts or actions do you demonstrate to those around you about your behavior? If you are feeling confident, you will easily be able to do what you believe is right even though others around you may be critical of you and what you do. You will constantly take risks, admit to your mistakes, take ownership of them, learn from them, and are humble about your accomplishments. You are generally a positive person who has an awareness and understanding, a level of trust in yourself, your abilities, your value, regardless of any imperfections you may have. If you display a lack of confidence, you base your behavior on what others think of you, you don’t leave your comfort zone for fear of failure, covering up any mistakes made and are dismissive of accomplishments. Low self-confidence can equate to self-destruction, manifesting itself as negativity in all facets of your life. Why does self-confidence matter? Why do so many of us struggle to find self-confidence? Is it learned behavior from childhood? Learned life experience? Workplace struggles? Lack of achievement? When was the last time you pitched a project? Were you noticeably nervous, your voice heightened, and your words jumbled - you constantly apologized for all you perceived as not “going right”? Or were you visibly articulate holding your head high, admitted when you didn’t know something, and held your shoulders back with assurance. If you display confidence in yourself, you inspire confidence in others, and this leads to success and achievement, not only in business but in life. How to gain self-confidence and maintain it Change your daily habits. Break the negativity cycle for the long term. This begins with your mental and physical health. What changes can you make with your lifestyle? Do you meditate, exercise, get quality sleep? Practice your personal branding, your awareness of the self and how others may see you. This can positively impact your level of confidence and you begin to think, feel and action “I Can” rather than “I Can’t.” Celebrate the small wins, those little steps. Make a list of them. “Today, I got up an hour earlier. Today I had once less coffee. Today I walked an extra mile.” When you begin to do this, the negative self-talk will slowly dissipate. Set yourself some confidence-boosting goals. Keep them small, achievable, like the small steps. Write them down and keep yourself accountable. Once you hit the target, move onto the next. Your strengths will become stronger and your weaknesses less. Does self-confidence matter? Yes, it does. Some of us learn it more readily than others. But it can be learned. When you feel confident, you understand and have an awareness about yourself where you trust your own abilities and know your value. By identifying and changing your lifestyle and by setting yourself small, achievable goals, you will automatically project confidence, rather than lack of it. Giving yourself a little boost every day maximizes and maintains good mental health, ensuring you can build a long term, confident future not only in your business, but in life. Follow me on Facebook , LinkedIn , Daisy Lane Publishing , or visit my website for more info! Read more from Jennifer ! Jennifer Sharp, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Jennifer Sharp is a leader in the publishing industry, having founded an award-winning publishing press. She has assisted many with telling their success stories globally, whether it be in business or life. She has created coaching and mentoring programs that develop the writer's confidence in themselves and strategies that help them stay confident within themselves in all areas of their lives authentically. She is the founder of Daisy Lane Publishing and Mindset Magic - Confidence Coaching. Jennifer is on a mission to support as many as she can with living their life fully with positive intentions and to assist them with publishing their story along the way. Jennifer is also passionate about children's picture books and poetry, bringing to life stories that deal with trauma, displacement, homelessness, separation, domestic violence, and language learning.

Written by: Sandra D´Angelo, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. What sounds more to your liking? a) Waking up just in time to prepare and dress up, and then rushing out so as not to be late for work? b) Waking up earlier to ensure spending some quality “me time” before getting out there? I could not imagine starting my day without having some proper time for myself first thing in the morning. My morning routine has a very high impact on the rest of my day as it ensures that I start my day more calmly and positively. I don’t believe in the “one size fits all” approach. While it is certainly important to read about other people´s routines and suggestions, it is more important that you experiment and come up with a routine that fits you. The only morning routine you will ever need is the one that you design for yourself. Your morning routine should: align with your values; prepare you for the day; make you excited and happy! I am not here to tell you what you should do every morning. Nobody knows that better than you do! I am here to give you steps to help you customize your own morning routine that will set you up for successful days ahead. The best way to start creating your morning routine is by reflecting on your current routine. What is working well? What is not working well? What can you do more/less of? What can you do differently? After you spent some time reflecting on what you´re currently doing, think about the following: 1. What is important to you? What are your values? Health, family, growth, development — you want to consider starting your day off by connecting with your values. It is such a great way to “recharge” yourself and fill yourself up with positive energy. 2. What are your daily goals and tasks? Outline your daily goals and categorize your tasks (what is important, what is urgent…) – think about your priorities and say “no” to all that is not important? Download a free copy of “My Weekly Planner” – an in-depth planner that will help you improve your time management skills and boost your productivity levels. Click HERE to download it. 1. What helps you get in a positive mood, have more energy, and focus better? 2. What are the specific activities that lift you that you can do in the morning? Be creative. 3. What time do you need to wake up to ensure enough quality “me time”? "Keep in mind that, it takes time to form new habits." Come up with your new plan and stick to it for at least a month. You might also want to consider starting slowly with smaller changes rather than trying to make many big changes all at once. And remember to have fun! Your morning routine and that extra time for yourself should be something that you feel excited about. By taking the proper time and care for yourself, you will be able to take better care of everything else. For more information, connect with me on LinkedIn and visit my website ! Read more from Sandra! Sandra D'Angelo, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Sandra D´Angelo is a Certified Life Coach & Trainer dedicated to coaching Business Professionals to manage their time more effectively and achieve outstanding results in their careers and privately. Through her specific coaching program, Sandra helps individuals to increase their focus, take effective action and create more success, by making themselves and their wellbeing a priority. Sandra holds an MBA in Communications & PR and has years of experience working in sales & consulting in Switzerland and Germany. Including building two successful business units from scratch. Before becoming self-employed, consulting & coaching have always been a part of Sandra´s professional life. Behind her is a strong track record of professionals from different backgrounds who she helped to explore their true potential and create the lives they want.

Written by: Amanda Rose, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. While many entrepreneurs avoid payment plans because they are afraid of running into clients not paying, the truth is, if you’re clear on your niche, firm in your boundaries, and selective with your clientele, payment plans make your high-ticket offers more ACCESSIBLE and it’s rare that clients default on their payments. Your dream clients honor what you do, and they WANT to compensate you! But… what happens when someone’s payment bounces or is late? GIVE THEM THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT Don’t jump to conclusions or assume the worst. Maybe their card expired and they forgot to update it. Maybe, if it’s an international payment, their bank protection system blocked the charge (yes, even if it was successfully charged before, it can sometimes randomly be blocked on future charges). Maybe they forgot to pay more down on their card, or the latest payment didn’t post yet, so there’s just no room on the card for the charge to be posted yet. Maybe they had a tough month, unexpected expenses (dental work, car repairs, etc.), or they ran into financial issues (lost their job, lost a top client, etc.) and are a little short on cash. 9-times-out-of-10 they aren’t deliberately stiffing you OR even aware of theirs payment issue! Reach out, via e-mail, phone, or DMs (however you normally connect with that client/customer) and politely let them know their payment didn’t go through. Let them know how they can update their card information, or that if they are under financial pressure to reach out to you to work something out. Typically, you’ll hear back with an apology and the payment will be made promptly, or an explanation of why you haven’t been paid and expected payment date, or a request to temporarily adjust the payment plan due to unforeseen financial struggles. WORK WITH THE CLIENT You know who gets paid LAST? The jerk who won’t stop riding you. Don’t harass or chastise someone for late payment. It’s usually an honest mistake or even a tech hiccup they couldn’t prevent. And if someone is short on cash, being mean to them won’t make them get the money any sooner. People usually feel very guilty if they are late or have defaulted on their payments. Be kind to them, try to work with them, and find a solution that allows them to continue to pay off their debts. WHEN THEY HAVE GHOSTED YOU You’re trying to reach out, but you’re not getting any responses. Before you get a collections agency involved, which takes a large portion of the profit margin, be sure to give it time while attempting to resolve the issue through your own business. Make sure to give it some time (family emergencies or travel may keep people unavailable or unable to check their e-mail, social media, or even phone calls). Try reaching out by multiple methods. 1. Late payment notices If they are 30-days late (or more), send a late-payment notice, with the invoice number, amount owing, date it was due, and kindly request payment as soon as possible. After another 30-days, if you still have not heard anything, send a follow-up. At the 90-day mark, send a formal “Final Notice Past Due” letter, via regular mail, with signature upon arrival (this gives you proof that the recipient received the letter should things escalate to the courts). This notice should inform them that this is the last chance to pay by a specified date before their account will be sent to collections. 2. Call, call, call… and call again! As well as sending late payment notices, getting your delinquent client on the phone is the best way to resolve the issue. It’s difficult for someone to avoid paying you while they’re talking to you. It creates that human connection; you’re no longer words on the screen or on a piece of paper, you are a real person. Try calling once a week to get hold of them during the 90-days following a late payment. GETTING A COLLECTIONS AGENCY INVOLVED If you’ve tried everything you can to get hold of a client, and no response has come, and the amount owing is large enough to merit going after, you’ll likely want to enlist the help of a reputable debt collector. What to look for (or ask them about): Are they familiar with your type of business/industry? Not all businesses are the same, and anyone who claims the processes are the same across the board is not someone you want to have working on behalf of your company. Do they have liability insurance? If they do not have liability insurance and the client feels harassed by the debt collectors, who are working on your behalf, the client may try to sue your company. Are they licensed to collect in the geographic location of the client? Every jurisdiction is different, and to follow legal protocols, you want to make sure the agency you hire is licensed to do the work in the area you need them to work in. With more and more online businesses serving international clients, this question is a top priority. What’s their BBB rating? Do some due diligence and check the Better Business Bureau for its evaluation of the collections agency you intend to hire. What is their process for collections? How do they pursue the debtor to get them to pay up? It is important to know that they follow a good protocol such as: Starting with e-mails and/or letters, progressing to phone calls, should that fail escalating to the court system so that they are given approval in taking actions such as placing a lien on the debtor’s home/properties, forcing seizure of assets, and being able to impact the debtor's credit score. What is their pay structure? Ideally, you DO NOT want to pay anything up-front. There is no guarantee that an agency will be able to collect. Most good agencies offer their services in exchange for 25-50% of the profits they collect, with no up-front cost. Do they offer Skip-Tracing? Some debtors try to move to a new residence as a means of attempting to escape paying their debts. Skip-tracing services are when the creditors specialize in tracking down these types of debtors. OTHER OPTIONS Instead of employing a debt collection agency, you may opt to file with a Small Claims Court or Hire a Lawyer to help you handle what a debtor owes you. PROTECT YOURSELF UPFRONT Make sure to take the necessary steps upfront to protect yourself against potential default payees: Use contracts so that you have legal recourse should a client default Specify payment terms and late fees Use automatic payment systems, such as Stripe, to help process and track income Keep track of non-formal written agreements (these are still binding, but you’ll need to reference the source and provide proof) Put any verbal agreements into writing and have both parties sign For more information, visit my website and follow me on Facebook and Instagram! Read more from Amanda! Amanda Rose, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Amanda Rose is the CEO and founder of The Infinite Power of You INC., a Business, Wealth and Mindset Coach, Multi-Published Multi-Genre Author, Motivational Speaker, Course Creator, and Actor. Her corporation serves entrepreneurs worldwide, with her unique approach that focuses on understanding each client’s individual strengths and guiding them in building their own methodology, rather than attempting to get them to adapt to a specific mold. Amanda has been a sales expert for over a decade, having experience in door-to-door sales, retail, live sales presentation, network marketing, and online product and service sales, which allows her to bring extensive insight to her clients. Amanda has been featured in many publications and news articles for her work, including FOX, CBS, Yahoo! Finance, and NBC, and was recently recognized with the BRAINZ Global 500 Award and the CREA 2021 Award. Amanda passionately works to help entrepreneurs succeed through her Corporation as well as within her Facebook Community.

Written by: Sian Gunney, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. Let’s talk about the hottest new travel trend bleisure, and its positive impact on workforce wellbeing and creativity. It used to be just for business coaches, tech giants, and creative digital marketers, but now it’s opening up for workers and entrepreneurs alike, and the good news is bosses are getting behind it. With more and more people retraining and going to work for themselves to get a better work/life balance, managing directors everywhere are looking to add value to their employees' working lives. Changes to the way we work, live, and relax have informed many managing director’s approaches to a brave new world of work operations. Working from home has proven that remote working means getting a lot more done without the overheads. Globally we have all proven we can work remotely with increased productivity and wellbeing, which now means we can work from anywhere in the world, a fact not new news to the consultancy and coaching world. In terms of travel, it is more sustainable and rewarding for travel guests to look at longer stays. The blending of business and leisure from meetings to remote working means a new phase of travel called bleisure, and bleisure travelers are already hunting for perfect hotels to serve their needs. Global business travel statistics from 2018 show that during that year: £941,447,150,000.00 was spent on business travel worldwide. Globally, annual business travel costs are expected to amount to £1,203,345,000,000.00 by 2022. Spending on business trips abroad in 2019 was £4.7 billion compared to £4.4 billion on domestic trips. Almost 10% of business trips can be categorized as “bleisure” trips. Although bleisure is about to have a monumental rise, only 60% of companies globally actually have a corporate travel policy. What is the value of bleisure? The best ideas come to us when we are on holiday, and there’s a reason for this. Many leaders say it’s having the mind-space without the clutter and distractions of everyday life. Thus allowing us all to access more cognitive bandwidth when we are on holiday. Vacations provide optimum conditions for bliss and joy, and in turn, this stimulates creative and innovative thoughts. For years the hustle burnout culture had youngsters working all hours with no boundaries between work and play. We know that this can present itself in illness later in life, impacting the neurology and the endocrine system advancements in neuroimmunology show the negative impact of sustained daily stress. This always ON, urgency culture is catastrophic to future success and wellbeing. Finally, leaders are understanding this after years of creating disengaged workforces. Now they are looking at how they can create a workplace where people are happy, enthused, and go the extra mile. Tips from the top The best in business understand boundaries and balance make us masterful. Seth Godin is a multi-millionaire entrepreneur, teacher, and author who writes about marketing, tribes, and respect. He eliminates meetings and is highly selective on what and who he keeps close to. He says just because it’s important to you doesn’t mean it should be on my agenda. Meetings are a festival to avoid responsibility. Most of this world’s successful leaders say no to far more than they say yes to. They avoid reactive communications and only respond to what is necessary and best for their business. The most successful leaders delegate and focus on the top 25% of what needs to be done. They live more than they work and, in doing so, create masterpieces and leave legacies. Rise and rest routines are fundamental, along with a change in the horizon that brings fresh challenges and tranquillity in equal measure. Who books a hotel takeover? In 2021 and 2022, many people will be looking to do this to reunite with friends and family worldwide and find a safe space in the sun. However, there’s a new wave of Hotel Takeover groups, and these come right from the top tiers of business success. They are called Mastermind retreats, and Yes! They are all doing it. Oprah Winfrey, Mandela, Tony Robbins, and Richard Branson have all attributed their ultimate success to being in a mastermind group! Popular mastermind groups include Natalie Macneil running The Collective with Richard Branson on Necker Island, Jenna Kutcher from Waco to Wisconsin. Rachel Hollis has large audiences and memberships that help females rise. It all starts with bringing people together with aligned values. These are called masterminds which are groups where entrepreneurs discuss business. They can be in person, on social media, video conferences, or other mediums. While some use them to close deals or open up new opportunities, for other people, masterminds are simply an organized way to meet like-minded high achievers. Mastermind retreats bring together a collective of great (master) minds together. These retreats seek to revive, rediscover and reimagine the next level up for you and your business. You get to bounce ideas around a group of high-level success entrepreneurs and troubleshoot your challenges in a respectful, safe space. There are also healing, and awakening retreats very popular with the same leaders of commerce and often many celebrities too. These are provided by prestigious thought leaders such as Jake Woodward spiritual healing and Dr. Nicole Pera, The Holistic Psychologist with the self-healers circle. If you are looking for the perfect Mastermind retreat location with unspoiled and luxury surroundings where the world cannot intrude, with the ability to work on the wifi but also quiet zones where you can literally unplug. Somewhere you can live like a local and have micro boutique hotel accommodation that feels more like a home away from home than a hotel room, this is the perfect place for you. Welcome to The Great House, Antigua A breath-taking private paradise, treasured for its rural grace and unspoiled beauty This micro-boutique hotel offers a heavenly escape with 26 sweeping acres of rural tropical Caribbean gardens, including a stunning pool and spa facilities. The Great House Antigua feels like the promised land. It is one of the most atmospheric hotels in the Caribbean, overlooking its own bay, enabling the famous trade winds to cool the house. A perfect shell of the sugar mill stands over the meditation platform, overlooking the crystal Caribbean waters. Gabriella and Isabella Howell have opened up their late grandmothers home, a stunning 350-year-old sugar mill mansion with the choice to book any of the 8 suites, either in the historic main house with glass chandeliers and four-poster mahogany beds or in the new garden suite cottages fitted with his and her marble showers and walk-in wardrobes. With discounts for hotel take-over’s it is the perfect location to book out for a group retreat, to unwind. The hotel is family-owned and ‘bubble boutique’ in terms of scale, so COVID protection is easier to implement and sustain. This is perfect for high-tier business leaders and coaches that value history and culture. The Great House Antigua attracts celebrities and thought leaders of notoriety. It is of interest for elite mastermind retreats and business book-outs for companies with exceptional workforce culture looking for a venue to accommodate teams of up to 16. You arrive as guests, but you leave as family. All of your needs and personal requests are catered for with precision and grace by the wonderful team. This personalized service is of the highest standard and is often not available with larger hotel groups. Here is an introduction video, so you experience The Great House visually. What retreats are available? The Great House already. Wellness Retreat Painters Retreat Girls Getaway Couples Retreat Click to view this gorgeous page outlining what each retreat can offer you. Gabriella and Isabella Howell, owners of The Great House, Antigua, will work with you to ensure that they serve your needs and create the perfect Mastermind retreat with you. Your mastermind retreat could include as many exercise classes as you’d like. The Great House Antigua can also arrange fitness instructors to help you or to include a Soca dance class - an Antiguan special. During your time at the hotel, breakfast, lunch, dinner, and soft drinks are included. They can personalize these menus to suit you and your guest’s individual needs. They have yoga mats, dumbbells, kettlebells, skipping ropes, resistance bands, etc. Shuttles to the gorgeous beach nearby are also included, and they offer hikes through the island as part of the package by the team’s naturalist. Pricing Pricing low season: (4 May - 8 November) Inclusive of tax and service charge (24%) Closeout full board: US $5,504 Closeout without meals: US$4,619 Pricing high season: (9 November 3 May) Inclusive of tax and service charge (24%) Closeout full board: US$6,096 Closeout without meals: US$5,211 Book from May 2021 until summer 2021 for a 35% discount on your retreat! Ask for Gabriella or Isabella Howell if you look to book your Mastermind retreat or indeed your bleisure stay! Want to learn more from Sian? Follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin and visit her website. Sian Gunney, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Sian Gunney is a Success Strategist listed on Yahoo Finance in the Top 10 Social Media experts to watch in 2021. Also listed as 48 in the top 100 influencers worldwide on digital marketing by Onalytica. Sian has won social media marketing awards for innovation and results for brand campaigns such as Chrysler and Dominos Pizza. As a dedicated, versatile creator, Sian designs and executes meaningful strategies bridging content and commerce across platforms and people. Sian specializes in strategy that focuses on Brand, Digital Marketing, and PR. Sian is a disruptor. She works with clients to lead change, not be led, supporting them to self-disrupt, refocus, and reposition to stay ahead. Over a decade of working with some of the biggest brands from Britvic, Virgin Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn to building brands such as Skinade, Biocol Labs and working with celebrities from celebrity gifting to high tier personal brand management to business development with their commercial entities from Karren Brady CBE to Joe Calzaghe MBE, CBE Everyone that comes to Sian is looking for some kind of transformation, and she excels with this, as you can see from her case studies from over the last 15 years in business. Sian is highly selective and only works with those she truly believes in and who reciprocate that belief as the high-quality results in business come from high-quality relationships. None of us are here by accident. We all have a unique purpose and value. Sian's path is to help others to level up and realize their untapped potential. Sian is innately in tune both spiritually and professionally, and she operates between the worlds of art with creativity and science with strategy. With increased visibility and support comes sovereign opportunities for Sian's clients and the people she holds close. Sian's adventurous soul is willing to suspend fear and move intentionally towards her goals by helping others build their dreams. Sian loves opening doors for others.

Written by: Maria Tecce, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. I just got off Zoom with a client who is having a seriously bad day. She is wrapped up in feeling panicked and insecure about an upcoming high-stakes presentation. So. We did a deep dive into what is keeping this CFO from creating amazing presentations. And it turns out! She’s afraid of what other people will think of her if she fails. How real is that? We’ve all felt this fear at some point in our lives, and it’s completely natural. So, how can you cut that fear down to size? Here are 4 tips you can put into practice today to manage fear, panic, and insecurity and create amazing presentations. Take Action: Start With Making A Plan Sounds simple, right? Yup. It is that simple. But the simplest solutions are often the ones we ignore. The fear of failing becomes so big in our own thinking that it overshadows the most obvious first step towards creating amazing presentations. Failing is part of growth, and we all miss the mark every now and then. But making a plan helps to short circuit the fear factor because you’re taking action. Action crushes fear; inaction feeds it. Once you've taken one new action towards that first step of planning, you can break down your plan into manageable chunks. This helps break up the challenge into a manageable piece and sets you on the road to creating amazing presentations. Amazing Presentations Need A Full Tool Box Building up a varied and exciting toolbox full of techniques and skills you can pull out and use for your preparation is key. Having a plan means having the go-to skills that resonate with you, both vocal presence & physical presence skills and skills to create your content & story. For instance, you could have 1. Good posture 2. Using a varied vocal delivery and 3. Eye contact is your go-to skills. These will be different for each person, so get as much training as possible and start stocking your tool kit. Other invaluable skills in creating amazing presentations are how you craft your story and pinpoint who your audience is. You must know who you’re talking to before your start story-boarding your story. After you know who your audience is, you can start sketching out your story, i.e., the beginning, middle, and end. Every good story has three main parts to its structure, so be clear about how you’re going to tell your story before you share it. As Bob Dylan famously sang, ‘I’ll know my song well before I start singing.’ Get Feedback From Someone You Trust (Or Your Phone) Once you know what you’re going to say and why, it's time to get feedback from someone you trust. Don’t just ask anyone; make sure that person is going to be honest. To help them give you straight, clear feedback, give them very specific things to look for. For example, if you’re trying to strengthen your use of hands, ask them to watch out for that specifically. Or, if your vocal delivery is getting flat, ask them to zero in on how you’re using the range of your voice. The clearer you can be on what you’re practicing and what you want your trusted listener to watch out for, the better their feedback will be. And the closer you are to creating an amazing presentation with knock-out delivery and presence. Alternatively, remember your trusty phone, tablet, or laptop. These days it’s just a matter of clicking on the camera icon, and you’re away in a hackney. Or schedule a Zoom or Teams meeting on your own, record the session, and then watch it back. Easy peasy. Instant feedback. Practice, Practice, Practice Amazing presentations means getting feedback that is as specific and targeted as possible. Tweak and polish, make changes. Practice it again. Get feedback. How did you do? Tweak and polish, make changes. Practice it again. Repeat. This is the learning and practicing process. It’s about consistency and clarity, not just about repeating the same thing over and over again. The more specific you are about what you’re practicing, the more value you’ll gain from your practice. Again, have a plan when you practice and be specific about what you’re focusing on. Clarity is golden, so the clearer your plan is when your practice, the faster you will learn. And the longer that learning will stay in your body, which brings you one step closer to delivering an amazing presentation. Practice is a physical activity, and the body learns best and most efficiently when there is physical activity involved. When your body and voice begin to get into the action and start speaking your story, your body creates very strong and indelible memories. This is the learning process at its most efficacious. Failing To Plan Is Planning To Fail Ben Franklin once said, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” At the end of the day, having a plan lowers the chance of you bottling it or just plain blanking during a presentation. Equally, when you have a plan, you’re more likely to strike out on a new endeavor. Whereas if you don’t have a plan and are just winging it, you’re more likely to give up or not take that first step towards your goal at all. If you want to develop and deliver amazing presentations, then start by making a plan, no matter how simple it is. It could be as simple as making sure you breathe while you deliver your content. Great feats begin with small beginnings. Go on. Take the first step, and you may surprise yourself. What are your go-to skills when it comes to preparation? Leave a comment below, and I love hearing from you guys! And then, click on the link for your FREE Zoom Hacks video. Want to learn more from Maria? Follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin and visit her website. Maria Tecce, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Maria Tecce is a leader in public speaking & voice and speech coaching. After making her living as a professional actor and singer for 20 years, Maria began coaching business professionals and performers a decade ago in the same skills that professional performers use every day. C-Suite and Senior Executives work with her when they want to up their game and show up as powerful, confident, passionate, joyful speakers in their businesses and for the people around them. Her clients include Google, Diageo, Ulster Bank, Bank Of Ireland, Ericsson, KPMG, Smurfit Business School, Johnson & Johnson, Salesforce, and Virgin Media. Maria is dedicated to helping powerful men and women take ownership of their confidence, authentic voice, and joy as speakers and communicators. Her mission states, "Own your voice, own your story, own your space."

Written by: Roxy Rapedius, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. Do you have the "what if" thoughts constantly running in your head, creating images and stories of negative outcomes before making goals, decisions, or dreams a reality? And on top of these stories, do you tell yourself: I'm not worthy, I don't deserve money, I'm not smart, I'm not enough, I never meet expectations, I'm a failure, bad things always happen to me, etc. These sayings are your core beliefs and play a big role in your daily activities. They are views and notions you hold about yourself and how the world works. Core beliefs are instilled and shaped at a very young age by your parents and other dominant figures in your life and become your truth. They are stored in your subconscious, can become very powerful, self-limiting, and create the fear holding you back. Self-limiting core beliefs are not truths about who you really are and dictate how you live and behave every day. They are automatic thoughts circling your mind daily, leading to actions or, in most cases, lack thereof, thus affecting your decisions in your personal, professional, and or business life. “You act and feel not according to what things are like, but according to the image your mind holds of what they are like. You have certain mental images of yourself, your world, and the people around you, and you behave as though those images were the truth, the reality, rather than the things they represent.” — Maxwell Maltz. Beliefs are formed long-term and will not be changed overnight. With persistence and dedication, you will change your beliefs, make considerable positive advancements and feel powerful differences in your life. If I can do it, so can you! I used to make up those stories, have those negative self-talk and, suffer in silence! Why, why, why? Jumping out of my comfort zone was so scary. The fear was holding me back from making decisions to leap forward. Up to the age of 38, I used to live for the weekend and would jam-pack it with "stuff" that I couldn't do during the week because I was too busy, or simply keep me busy enough to prevent sadness to creep in. Come Sunday night, I would dread the upcoming week! Does that sound like you? I believed there was more to life than living from paycheck to paycheck, working overtime, missing out on gatherings and events, and not traveling to dream destinations. Working in jobs with limited salary, strict working hours, dictated vacation time, and no pay raises was daunting and emotionally draining. Although I excelled in all my jobs, won awards every year, I was embarrassed by my title. Seeing a life coach was one of the best investments I made. An investment in me, my wellness, my growth! I uncovered all my self-limiting beliefs and shortly realized how worthy I was in every aspect of my life and that I could achieve anything I wanted to do. There is no limit to what you can do and achieve when you visualize, believe, trust and surround yourself with people who uplift you every day. Today, I'm thriving in all areas of my life. I'm a successful Executive Wellness and Mindset Coach, my vision board, becomes a reality, and life is good! Follow Roxy on her Facebook and Instagram. You can also visit her website for more info! Read more from Roxy! Roxy Rapedius, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Roxy Rapedius’ decades of professional experience include progressively increasing responsibility and measurable positive results. Roxy has built significant and unique skills through these roles. She has experience in life coaching, public speaking, training, teaching, behavioral analysis, addiction, trauma, mental health, palliative support, grief and bereavement support, opioid dependency treatment, finance, insurance, event planning, financial planning, environmental development, immigration, dental, and banking. As CEO and Coach of Life Coach With Roxy, she approaches her work and life as an established leader who gets results. Roxy has a curiosity and keen desire to expand her knowledge and acumen to reach greater heights in serving others as a leader in business and life.

Written by: Tara Best, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. Has the fact we’re nearly halfway through 2021 rather snuck up on you? Despite starting this year in a lockdown and (here in the UK at least!) having to wait longer than normal for warm weather to arrive, summer is finally here! And it’s very welcome indeed. After the unprecedented disruption and fear which defined 2020, so many of us hoped and prayed that 2021 would see the return of normal life. The year hasn't quite played out like that yet, and many people have been left waiting and wondering what will happen next. On one hand, our vaccination program is one of the most successful in the world, and on the other, holidays are still being disrupted, and new variants of COVID-19 are popping up all the time. If that’s left you feeling a little lost at sea, how can you regain your mojo and fill your life with positivity and purpose instead of fear and negativity? Whatever your goals and dreams are, to stay motivated and positive, you need to connect to the ‘why’ you’re doing something in the first place. If you think you could use a motivation boost ready to step into the second half of the year in style, here are 5 of my go-to motivation hacks to try! 1. Get yourself into a state of gratitude. You can’t feel two opposing thoughts, so by focusing on what you feel grateful for rather than the challenges you face, you’ll raise your energy. A positive and grateful frame of mind is a MUCH better place to start from if you want to feel motivated than a place of negativity or resentment. If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed with work, a little sprinkling of gratitude will have you thanking the universe for the abundance of work in no time! 2. Connect to your goals with a vision board. Do you have a vision board? If you do, then this is the time to use it, remind yourself of your life and business goals, and get totally obsessed with smashing them. If you don’t have one, then get started on yours today. It should be filled with images of the rewards you will have when you smash your goals, so perhaps an abundance of money, time with friends and family, a newer car, or a holiday. Use your vision board to truly visualize what it will feel like when you have smashed a goal and have that reward. If you don’t connect to your goals, it’s very hard to stop yourself just plodding through tasks without care or consideration for the bigger picture. 3. Learn to recognize tiredness and procrastination and be honest with yourself. Sometimes a lack of motivation really is caused by the early stages of burnout, when you’ve been so busy keeping your head above water that you are exhausted. At other times your lack of motivation is caused by a failure to connect with goals or the absence of inspiration. Learn to listen to your body and then be totally honest with yourself. Do you need an afternoon out of the office, or do you need to put your phone away and focus on your why? 4. Use any motivational tools you can get your hands on — your favorite song, motivational videos on YouTube, even a look at an Instagram account that truly inspires you. Whatever it takes to help you focus and remember why you want to put the hours in the first place. 5. Have an accountability partner to help you stay on track even when you come across challenges. This can be a business partner or bestie, or perhaps even a coach, whoever you know will be there in times of need. This is SO powerful, and so often, their support will help you get right back on the horse if you’re having a tough day. I really hope these tips will help you find motivation and achieve everything you dream of. Whether you use them for your work or business, a side hustle, a health goal, or just to stay positive during the pandemic, I know they work for me. For more goal setting and mindset tips, why not join my second ever virtual retreat in August? It all kicks off on Monday the 2nd of August and all you need to do is sign up here . You can also follow me on Instagram or listen to my podcast Tara Talks for more nuggets of wisdom! Read more from Tara! Tara Best, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Tara Best of Tara Punter Coaching and Tara Punter PR is incredibly passionate about all things mindset and marketing and helping business owners thrive while taking control of those limiting beliefs likely to hold them back in business. As a certified Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) Coach, NLP Practitioner, Practitioner of Time Line Therapy, and Hypnotherapist, she has the tools required to help clients rewire their subconscious mind, to help them create unlimited success. She combines this with her marketing and public relations expertise to truly help her audience thrive. Best is also the voice behind the popular podcast Tara Talks and soon to be a published author.